Do you remember 2023?
Back then, the automotive world had one favorite punching bag: Toyota. Tech bros, Wall Street analysts, and EV evangelists all screamed the same thing: “Toyota is doomed! They are moving too slowly on EVs! They are stuck in the past!”
Former CEO (now Chairman) Akio Toyoda stood on stage and calmly said that a 100% electric future wasn’t realistic yet. He argued for a “multi-pathway” approach—Hybrids, Hydrogen, and EVs living together. He was booed.
Well, welcome to January 2026. Who is laughing now?
The Great EV “Cool Down”
Let’s look at the hard data from the start of this year. While EV sales are still growing in China, in Europe and the US, the curve has flattened.
- Mercedes-Benz has officially pushed back its “EV Only” goal by five years.
- Volkswagen has paused construction on its new battery gigafactory.
- Ford is pivoting hard back to hybrids.
And Toyota? Toyota is posting record profits. Their hybrids—the Innova Hycross, the Camry, and the RAV4—have waiting periods stretching into months, not weeks.
Why 2026 is the Year of the Hybrid
Akio Toyoda’s logic was simple math, and in 2026, the math is finally adding up for the average consumer.
1. The “1:90” Rule
Toyota argued that the lithium used in one massive 100kWh EV battery could instead be used to build 90 hybrid batteries.
- The Result: One EV takes one petrol car off the road. 90 Hybrids take 90 pure petrol cars off the road and reduce their emissions by 40-50%.
- The Reality: In a world where lithium is expensive and mining is dirty, the Hybrid path is actually faster for decarbonization.
2. Infrastructure Fatigue
In 2026, we still don’t have enough chargers. I drove a pure EV from Bangalore to Goa last month, and let me tell you—waiting 45 minutes in a queue for a fast charger isn’t “the future.” It’s a headache. A Hybrid gives you 25 km/l in the city (on electric power) and 1,000 km of range on the highway. No apps, no range anxiety, no stress.
What This Means for Indian Buyers
For us in India, this validation is huge. We are a cost-conscious, high-mileage market.
- Maruti Suzuki and Toyota betting on Strong Hybrids (HEVs) was the masterstroke we didn’t appreciate enough.
- Expect 2026 to bring affordable hybrids to the hatchback segment (Swift/Baleno Hybrid anyone?).
The AutoCritic Verdict
Don’t get me wrong—EVs are fantastic. The BYD Seal and Ioniq 5 are some of the best cars I’ve ever driven. But they are not for everyone. Not yet.
Toyota realized that the world is big, and not everyone lives in a villa with a private wallbox charger. By refusing to kill the engine, they saved the company.
So, to Mr. Akio Toyoda: You were right.
Are you Team Hybrid or Team EV in 2026? Would you buy a pure electric car as your only car today? Let me know in the comments!
